Waging unjust all-out-wars that victimized thousands of civilians is the core of the Moro peoples impeachment complaint against President Macapagal Arroyo filed last Monday, June 26, before the Secretary Generals Office at the House of Representatives.
Atty. Nasser Marohomsalic, head convener of the Union of Muslims for Morality And Truth (UMMAT), who represented the victims from the Moro sector in the filing,
carried with him piles of documented human rights violations cases committed against the Moro people from 2001 to 2005.
Along with other victims, the Moro people were among those who guarded the entrance of the Batasan leading to the Secretary Generals office on Sunday to make sure that a fake impeachment complaint will not thwart the genuine peoples clamor for the removal of President Arroyo, Atty. Marohomsalic said.
Included in the complaint are the fact finding mission results of the most infamous wars in Mindanao from 2001 to 2006.
In the context of these state-led wars, crimes against civilians — ranging from massive and forcible displacement, indiscriminate firing and bombing, razing of homes, divestment of property and other grave HRVs — have been committed by the military,
Marohomsalic said.
He recounted the alleged military-instigated massacre (of the Padiwan family) in Sulu in 2005 which led to the re-eruption of the conflict between the MNLF and the military.
He also mentioned the 2003 War in North and Central Mindanao which was aimed against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) by then Former Defense Chief Angelo Reyes. The latter led to the forcible displacement of more than 400,000 people and the death of around 100 children in evacuation centers.
Crimes such as these indict the Arroyo government for crimes against humanity. And the Moro people from the beginning have called for Mrs. Arroyos ouster.
The Moro sector also filed the Commission on Human Rights report regarding the March 2005 Camp Bagong Diwa incident wherein 22 Moro inmates have been slain. The CHR this year concluded that most of the slain inmates have been salvaged and recommended cases of murder and abuse of authority to be filed against the police assault team led by former DILG Secretary Angelo Reyes.
The former human rights commissioner said, By all accounts, the Arroyo government is guilty of the worst forms of human rights violations that commensurate to state terrorism. There is no doubt that there is a national policy of war and discrimination against the Moro people and against those that espouse anti-Arroyo sentiments.
Atty. Marohomsalic expressed doubts that genuine peace will be achieved in Mindanao under President Arroyos term.
Reference: Atty. Nasser Marohomsalic
Head convener
Union of Muslims for Morality And Truth
